The BJP-led Haryana government is set to rename the Chandigarh International Airport after Mangal Sen of the RSS, thus deciding against the earlier choice to name it after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. This is an injustice to the country and its freedom fighters. The trend of glorifying political actors is nothing new, starting from schemes named after Gandhi and Nehru. This practice has reached the point that political parties don’t hesitate to refuse to name locations after real national heroes, choosing political “advertisements” instead. This is deplorable.
Shivanshu K. Srivastava, (Lucknow)
Caught Off-guard
After the controversy over the CBI searching the office of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, it is perhaps better for politicians not to get involved with sports administration, especially of cricket, which is flush with money and vulnerable to corruption. The DDCA, a private club governed by the Companies Act and recognised by the BCCI as Delhi’s official cricket body, has produced three Test captains for India and a host of well-known players. But its off-the-field record is not so sparkling. For more than 40 years, the DDCA has been plagued by bitter feuds, power struggles and charges of funds misappropriation. Kejriwal’s allegation is credible only because FM Arun Jaitley is deeply entrenched in the DDCA’s affairs. This case demonstrates the perils of representing several interest groups at the same time.
J. Akshay, (Bangalore)
In Their Court
Hats off to the Supreme Court for exercising its constitutional powers under Article 142 to order the appointment of a former Allahabad High Court judge as Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta. On the face of it, this seems like a clear case of trespassing in the executive’s arena by the judiciary, but when one accounts for how often the court’s directions were flouted by the state government, one can endorse this unprecedented move. The court’s move also ought to serve as a warning for our political parties, notably the incumbent BJP, as it has been close to two years since the passage of the Lokpal bill and yet no appointment has been made. Will the SC now take suo motu cognisance of the inordinate delay in appointing a national Lokpal?
Hemant Kumar, (Ambala)
Source: New feed
